A visit to the stadium last Saturday by the Graphic Sports revealed extensive decay, including worn-out astro turf, broken fencing, missing seats, cracked walls with exposed iron rods, rusty gates and broken toilet facilities.

The tunnel leading to the dressing rooms was also in poor condition, with puddles of water accumulating from recent rains, while overgrown weeds and encroachment around the grounds further compounded the deterioration.

The stadium’s last major renovation took place ahead of the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations, funded through a FIFA-assisted project and later handed over to the National Sports Authority (NSA). 

At the time, it was intended to provide a world-class environment for football development and other national events, including the annual Independence Day parades in Tema.

Eighteen years later, the artificial turf and other facilities have worn out due to neglect and lack of replacement, leaving the stadium unsafe for players, officials and spectators.

Plastic seats have been ripped off and parts of the stadium have become grazing grounds for livestock.

Caretakers at the facility declined to comment when approached by the Graphic Sports. In response to the unsafe conditions, league matches previously scheduled at the stadium have been shifted to the Nii Adjei Krakue II Park in Tema New Town.